Gourmet canned sardines and horse mackerel could soon be on menus across Europe as new fish canning factories look to set up business in Olhão and bring a modern twist to one of the region’s oldest industries.
Fish and seafood company Companhia das Pescarias do Algarve is looking to invest 1.1 million euros in opening its headquarters and a factory in Olhão as part of a 12 million euro investment in the region.
Spokesman Carlos Sousa Reis told regional weekly newspaper Barlavento that the structures in Olhão will support three aquaculture projects off the Algarve’s coast.
He added that around 60 per cent of the company’s seafood products will be sent across Europe to countries such as Holland, France, the UK and Germany as well as across the Atlantic to the US.
“Smoked mackerel is a magnificent product that does not yet exist in the national market and which can be used along with tuna or other fish products for Sushi and Sashimi,” he said.
Meanwhile, another company, Freitasmar, which specialises in luxury canned fish, is looking to start the construction of a new factory in Olhão port next month, where it will relocate its 95 staff from the current Olhão base and employ a further 15 in a new gourmet line of canned sardines.
